How to plan a Las Vegas wedding

As one of the most unique cities in the world, Las Vegas is a popular destination for weddings. With its glamorous character matched with an atmosphere unlike any other place on earth, each year around 120,000 couples opt to tie the knot in the fabulous Nevada city.

From ‘The King’ to honeymooning, we’ve put together a ‘how to’ guide with all the essentials you need to plan your perfect Las Vegas wedding.

Hen and stag nightsAlso known as Sin City, with thousands of casinos on the famous Strip and Downtown Vegas (centered around Fremont Street), this is the place to have that celebratory last night as a bachelor or bachelorette. Head to a Black Jack table to try your luck while sipping on a Vesper or take in one of the many excellent shows available, some of which are perfect for hen and stag nights. How about a burlesque show for the gentlemen and the Chippendales for the ladies?

The wedding ceremonyWhatever your taste, Las Vegas is the place to have an unforgettable wedding. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, try one of the special wedding services on offer from a Vegas wedding consultant. If an Elvis or Star Trek theme is not your cup of tea, the many luxurious hotels along the Strip have their own wedding chapels for a bit more splendour.

Iconic spots such as the drive-through altar at the Little White Wedding Chapel and the Graceland Wedding Chapel are must-sees on the Vegas map, but with more than 50 wedding chapels in town and plenty of other amazing wedding locations you will not have a problem finding a place to exchange your vows. The only thing stopping you is your imagination!

However, as there are so many weddings taking place each day, don’t expect to have a long ceremony. You are often allowed only a half-hour of chapel time, so if you’re planning to exchange vows you have written yourself, these might be best saved for the post-wedding drinks or dinner.

What do I wear to my Vegas wedding?Las Vegas has no waiting period for getting married, so spur-of-the-moment weddings are a common occurrence which means the dress code is fairly relaxed. Most wedding chapels will have tuxes and gowns for hire, so if you don’t want to spend thousands on a dress you’ll wear for one night there is no need to. There are also plenty of other places to hire wedding dresses on short notice scattered around the city. Alternatively, invest in a pretty white dress, but remember it doesn’t need to be over the top Gypsy-wedding-style.

What is the wedding paperwork?Even though there no requirements to be a Nevada resident, you must have a marriage licence. These can be obtained from the Marriage License Bureau and will cost you $60. You will also have to get a copy of your Nevada marriage certificate as proof of your marriage ($10) and an apostille from the Nevada Secretary of State ($20), both also from the Marriage License Bureau.

Before tying the knot, you will also have to provide proof of ID to prove your age so make sure you keep your passport on you.

The honeymoonHoneymooning in Vegas could be a beautiful way to celebrate your first days as newlyweds. From the world-class dining, star studded shows, abundance of 24-hour casinos and vibrant nightlife you won’t be running short of ideas of things to do. Alternatively you could head to the famous Grand Canyon to escape the hustle and bustle of Sin City, or jet over to Los Angeles and the California coast for some seaside lounging.

Getting thereBritish Airways flies direct to Las Vegas from London while Virgin Atlantic offers direct routes from both London and Manchester. BMI also offers direct routes from Manchester.